31 comments:

I have to wonder what a new mother needs to purchase at a hospital gift shop...

But outside of the US, this wouldn't have been that unusual -- when my daughter was born last November, we checked into the hospital about 12:15, she was born at 13:11, and we were discharged about 17:15. There was no reason for us to stay, and I certainly wanted to be back at home in my own bed for recovery.

When we were younger, my wife miscarried and we were in the hospital room for 8 hours and no one came in to see her, no nurse, no doctor, no one. I went looking every hour asking if anyone was going to come and see her, check on her , look in. At midnight we got up, I got her dressed and we walked out the door, through the quiet halls, passed the nurses station, past the security desk and startled security guard and out. So I believe it can very easily be done.

I couldn't have done this with my first; I'd had too many stitches and was in two much pain. With my second I had a birthing center birth (so no drugs) delivered at 7:30 and was on my way home before noon.

My mom and I love the gift shop at our hospital! Our friends often get jealous with the beautiful watches and other jewelry that we get for great prices in the gift shop. They also have a lot of cute knick knacks around the shop. I've even done significant portions of my Christmas shopping at the gift shop! Great place!

My son was born via c-section after 16 hours of labor. 4 hours after he was born I filled out, addressed and stamped all the birth announcements. 6 hours after he was born I took a shower. 2 days after he was born I had enough of the hospital and checked us both out. 6 days after he was born I drove 700 miles. I do think I would have cancelled a same day appointment, though.

My sixth hospital birth was so uneventful, the doctor said I could go home if I wanted within a few hours of the birth, but I chose to spend a night there so I could at least get one last peaceful sleep. Maybe things are different here in Canada as far as discharge rules.

By the way, I gave birth to my seventh baby at home, alone. Well, not completely alone. My husband was present, and five of my other kids were in bed. Here's the story if anyone's interested:

I doubt I would have gone to a drs appointment that day but I delivered my second daughter at our birth center at 6:45 am and we were home by lunch time. Prior to going to the birthcenter I put our Thanksgiving turkey in a brine to soak that day and over night. The next day I hosted Thanksgiving. I did not even bother with going in the birthcenter with my first, I gave birth to her in the parking lot. In that case we did stay 6 hours.

Some of these stories make me realize how old I am. When I had my second and third sons the doctor told me I could go home right after (I felt fine) but that the baby couldn't leave for 48 hours. I lived 35 miles away and was nursing. I stayed.

I was c-sectioned at 36 weeks for preeclampsia- 190/110 on meds and had rapidly packed on 30 lbs of water. I was sick. My epidural failed- too high. I couldn't breathe and had a BP in the 60's but could feel much of the action. 3 hours later I was up walking against med/nursing advice. Compared to how damn sick I was while pregnant, I felt AWESOME. I would have called to reschedule a routine appt tho- docs are terrified to touch the pregnant or recently delivered. "Go to L+D!". But I cut my hand off! "L and D I tell you!!!!"

Welcome to my whining!

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